New Amendment to Reduce Penalty Fines

Texting while driving remains a primary offense, but fines will cost less. The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that the Virginia Senate approved Gov. Bob McDonnell’s, R-Va., amendments to Senate Bill 1222 today. The amendments to this legislation on texting while driving passed on a 36-4 vote and will reduce fines introduced in the original bill by half. Under the amended legislation, drivers will pay $125 instead of $250 for a first offense and $250 instead of $500 for second and subsequent offenses.